EX-SPA chief to appear before MSPS

Former chief executive of Scotland’s police watchdog Andrew Flanagan is to be quizzed by MSPS over a proposal to reinstate chief constable Phil Gormley, it has been confirmed.

Mr Flanagan will give evidence at the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee along with current board members Nicola Marchant and David Hume later this month.

The former Scottish Police Authority chief executive will be asked about the controversy raging over the treatment of Mr Gormley.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson was criticised for asking the SPA to reconsider its decision to let Mr Gormley come back to work after he was put on special leave following bullying allegations.

Mr Gormley has denied the allegations and his lawyer has accused Mr Matheson of acting unlawfully.

This week Mr Matheson defended his actions saying the SPA had failed to provide reassurances that due process had been followed when making the decision.

Mr Matheson said the SPA had neglected to ask the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner Kate Frame if his return to work would impact on the bullying investigations.

He also argued that had Mr Gormley gone back to work, he would have been working alongside those who had made complaints against him.